F i r s t P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u r c h S a n L e a n d r o HIGHLIGHTS VOLUME 17, ISSUE 9 WORLD COMMUNION SUNDAY OCTOBER 2016 On Sunday, October 2 nd, Christians all around the world will be celebrating World Communion Sunday. As we commemorate our oneness in Christ around the table with believers everywhere, we will also receive the 2016 Peace and Global Witness Offering. Our congregation has a history of generously supporting this offering that helps to support our partners in the Presbyterian Church as they continue their efforts to be a part of God's peacemaking and reconciliation throughout the world. Twenty-five percent of the offering will stay here in our local budget, for our own peace and global witness as the Session designates. ALL CHURCH RETREAT Our Annual All-Church Retreat will be held at Westminster Woods beginning on Friday, October 7 th at 7:00 pm and concluding on Sunday afternoon, October 9 th at 1:00 pm. Have you signed up yet?? If not, call the church office right away to see if there is still space available. The cost for 5 meals and two nights of lodging for adults is $155, for junior and senior highs $110, for kindergarten through fifth grades $75, and for toddlers and preschoolers, $35. Limited camperships are available. FAMILY OUTDOOR MOVIE NIGHT FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21 st We are having another Family Outdoor Movie Night in the church parking lot this year! Everyone is invited to come on Friday evening, October 21 st at 6:00 pm. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets, because after a hot dog barbeque, we ll be enjoying a fantastic movie projected in the parking lot. Here s a hint: it s about where everyone can be whatever they want to be! Can you guess? Invite your friends and neighbors! This will be fun for everyone, and it is free.
Young at Heart The Young at Heart group (for seniors and all those who are young at heart!) will meet on Thursday, October 20 th at 11:30 am for fellowship, lunch and a great program. We are looking forward to enjoying a travelogue on Underwater Diving with Anne and Conrad Milner. Everyone is welcome. Please sign up ahead of time so we will know how many people to expect. College Student Addresses Has your college student recently moved into a new dorm or apartment?? Please call the church office and be sure we have an up-to-date address for him/her so that we can send the Highlights and keep in touch. Upcoming Retreats at Westminster Woods It s not too early to begin to plan for a weekend at the Woods with other young people! Mark your calendars now: November 4-6, 2016: NovemberBash, a weekend retreat for middle school youth in grades 6-8. December 9-11, 2016: DecemberFest, a weekend retreat for high school youth in grades 9-12. February 10-12, 2017: Forest Adventure, a weekend retreat for students in grades 4-6. Also planned are two wonderful weekends for adults: a Women s Retreat, January 20-22, 2017 a Men s Retreat, February 17-19, 2017 See Westminster Woods website for more information. Alternative Gift Fair It s time for you to start making your lists and checking them twice, because planning has begun on this years Alternative Gift Faire, to be held Sunday, November 13 th in Fellowship Hall. As in the past, we will have tables set up for Equal Exchange Coffee & Chocolate, Heifer International, and Habitat for Humanity. Also there will be some gift items you may purchase, to support artisans and farmers worldwide. For more information please see Mary Woolsey or Helen Fortner. Angel Tree For several years our church has participated in the Angel Tree program at Christmas. Angel Tree is a program of Prison Fellowship that serves incarcerated parents by providing a pathway for strengthening and restoring their relationships with their children and families. Volunteers purchase and deliver presents with a loving message from the incarcerated parent, and also get a chance to share the greatest gift of all the Good News of Jesus Christ. Look for more information as the holidays approach. See Val Watts (Evangelism Elder) for more information. Page 2 HIGHLIGHTS
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 25 12:00 AM Potluck and Paper Craft Sunday 2 World Communion Sunday /Donuts 12:00 PM Advent Planning Meeting 12:30 PM Prayer Shawl Ministry 9 NO Sunday School 16 /Donuts 12:00 PM Potluck and Presentation with Missionary 26 27 3 7:00 PM Adult Education 10 NO Adult Education 17 Note start time: 6:45 PM Adult Education 7:00 PM Deacons Meeting 4 7:30 PM Building & Grounds, Stewardship and Worship Committees 28 11 12 18 7:30 PM Session Meeting 5 19 5:00 PM WOW & PEAK Halloween Party Wear Your Costume 29 6 13 1:00 PM Women's Bible Study 20 12:00 PM Young at Heart Luncheon 30 1 7:30 AM Men s Breakfast and Women s Fellowship 7 7:00 PM All Church Retreat Begins 14 15 21 6:00 PM Outdoor Movie Night 8 22 23 /Bake Sale 30 Stewardship Presentation 11:15 AM Sunday School 24 7:00 PM Adult Education 31 Halloween!! NO Adult Education 25 7:00 PM Deacons Meeting 1 7:30 PM Christian Ed, Evangelism, Group Life, Church in the World, Pastoral Care 26 2 27 1:00 PM Women's Bible Study 3 28 29 4 5 7:30 AM Men s Breakfast and Women s Fellowship
OCTOBER 5: GOD IS OUR GUIDE Upcoming WOW Programs The Bible has many stories of God being our guide in many situations. Elijah in the cave is one example where God directed Elijah to lead his people. OCTOBER 12: TOWER OF BABEL Genesis 11: 1-9 relates the story of God s people building a tower high enough to reach the Heavens. God had other ideas. How high will we be able to build our tower? Put your thinking caps on. OCTOBER 19: STANDING ON HOLY GROUND How do we stand firm in our faith? We pray lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil in the Lord s prayer. What can we do in today s world to help us not fall into temptation? OCTOBER 26: HALLOWEEN 5 O CLOCK START TIME Wear your costumes! Remember to be creative and leave the weapons and fake blood at home. We have a different schedule tonight because of the party. Everyone comes at 5 for a delicious and nutritious dinner. Then we party!! Program ends at 7:00 PM. S.H.A.R.E.S. Program Update The Lucky Supermarket S.H.A.R.E.S. Program has merged with e-scrip. S.H.A.R.E.S. Cards no longer work however, you can transfer your participation over to escrip. Please Sign up for the NEW* Shares program by registering your phone number or Lucky You Rewards Card with escrip. You can no longer use your S.H.A.R.E.S. card (effective April 1, 2016). Register your phone or your Save Smart Rewards card number (this will not be your S.H.A.R.E.S. card) Shop at Lucky Supermarkets and provide your registered phone number or card at checkout. Thank you for supporting our church in this way! Create Your Own Christmas Wreath On Saturday, November 26 th, you are invited to decorate a wreath for your home for Christmas! We will work on our wreaths in the church fellowship hall from 9:00 11:00 am. Wreaths must be ordered and paid for ahead of time cost is $10 each. You may reserve your wreath on Sunday morning, November 13 th or 20 th. Save the date! More details will be in the November Highlights. Congregational Meeting A congregational meeting has been called for Sunday, October 23 at 10:30 a.m. for the purpose of electing deacons and elders. This will be a brief meeting following worship. V OLU ME 1 7, ISS UE 9 Page 5
FIRST PRES BYTERIAN CHURCH NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S.POSTAGE PAID SAN LEANDRO, CA PERMIT NO. 84 180 Estudillo Avenue San Leandro, CA 94577 510-483-2772 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Men s/women's Breakfast Groups Our Men s and Women s Breakfast groups will resume meeting on October 1 st at 7:30 am at Manor Grill. The men s group will be considering the Gifts of the Spirit this year, with various men leading the devotional and discussion each month. The women will continue to enjoy Christian fellowship. Everyone is welcome. Advent Celebration Plans It isn t too early to get ready for Advent! Sunday, October 2 nd a group will meet at noon in the church library to begin planning for our annual Advent celebration, which is scheduled for Saturday, December 3 rd at 5:00 pm. Bring your ideas on October 2 nd all are welcome to help us make this a wonderful event for the entire church family. Bake Sale for Camperships Home-baked goodies will be for sale on Sunday morning, October 23 rd. Come and get some great desserts to take home or enjoy during coffee fellowship! Your contributions will go to the campership fund for next summer s campers going to Westminster Woods. Thank you!